Launched as Radio 210 (Two-One-Oh), the station commenced broadcasting in March 1976 on its medium-wave frequency of 210 metres (1,431 kHz).

It later became known as 210-FM, later as 2-Ten FM, and was part of The One Network group of stations owned and operated by Global Radio by 2008.

Other early presenters were Steve Wright, Mike Read, Tony Fox, Steve Crozier ("Yer Man Croze"), Mike Matthews, John Flower, Tony Holden, Steve Wood, Mike Quinn, Dave Glass, John Hayes (deceased), Gavin McCoy, Bob Morrison, Graham Ledger, Mike Sanderson (the Folk Show), Martin Dean (the Soul Show) and news editor David Addis.

Radio 210 initially only served Reading with a transmitter on 97.0 MHz FM on top of The Butts shopping centre; however that changed when it began broadcasting from the Hannington transmitter on a second frequency of 102.9 MHz at midday 1 January 1987 to serve a wider area of Berkshire and north Hampshire,[2] with a Henley-on-Thames relay added in 1997.

Classic Gold featured slightly more known presenters like Tony Gillham (head of music), and Trevor Fry.